Des Moines, IOWA — The Department of Public Safety (DPS) has added eight Humvees to its fleet through the military’s 1033 Program. The 1033 program allows a transfer of military equipment to law enforcement agencies to enhance operations at no cost to the agency. When the agency no longer desires to retain the equipment, the property is returned to the military. Following the acquisition of the Humvees, the Iowa National Guard assisted DPS by performing a maintenance inspection of each Humvee, making minimal repairs, and painting the vehicles. DPS reimbursed for the costs of these services. General fund dollars were not utilized to support this acquisition. The police equipment used to designate the Humvees as emergency vehicles was previously designated as surplus equipment due to the requirements of our newer Dodge patrol vehicles.
Following the crippling blizzard of December 19 & 20, 2012, Commissioner Brian London asked DPS staff to develop alternatives for members of the Division of Criminal Investigation, Division of Narcotics Enforcement and State Fire Marshal’s Office non-uniformed officers to support the State Patrol Division during disaster operations. During the blizzard, the Department’s non-uniformed officers were unable to support State Troopers as they worked toward rescuing stranded motorists across Iowa. These limitations included the viability and mobility of the non-uniformed officers’ vehicles.
The State Patrol Division will coordinate the readiness of the Humvees and station the vehicles across the state for rapid deployment during blizzards, flooding, tornadoes, and other disaster or critical incident related operations. During these deployments, more than 80 sworn members across Department stand ready to operate the Humvees to augment the Department’s uniformed response.
The State Patrol Division’s, Safety Education Unit will also use the Humvees occasionally to advance traffic and highway safety initiatives.
At the present time one Humvee is ready for deployment. Throughout the summer additional Humvees will be painted and up-fitted for deployment across the state. Once fully deployed, these eight Humvees will be stationed at:
District 1-Des Moines (2)
District 3-Council Bluffs (1)
District 6- Spencer (1)
District 8–Mason City (1)
District 9-Cedar Falls (1)
District 11-Cedar Rapids (1)
District 12-Stockton (1)
Tornados, blizzards? Gimme a break. This is the vehicle they’re gonna use when they pull up in the middle of the night, raid your home and take away all your weapons and amo. And the MCPD already has an even more advanced assault vehicle.
They already have much nicer vehicles than this that will carry 10+ people. This vehicle is not gonna change the way they would approach a high risk situation.
You are correct Mason City Police Department has an armored vehicle, but that one also is on loan from the national guard, This HUMVEE is not armored, so I doubt they will try to come and get my weapons and ammo in an unarmored vehicle when the National Guard has armored vehicles right in town, or MCPD’s armored personnel carrier…. now if we were talking about MRAPPS or RHINOS, that might raise my paranoia level but not a fiberglass shell HUMVEE. you would be safer in a regular metal vehicle.
You are aware that this is a regular humvee aren’t you? Only holds 4 personnel 5 if there is a turret, now if they use this vehicle during blizzards or floods to help stranded people then I have no issues with it, but our government tends to lead us in wrong directions, so here’s to hoping……
This is nothing new. Fire depts used to get old 6×6 trucks and make water tankers out of them. Giving the patrol an old humvee does nothing to make them more or less para military
But, they are not making a water truck out of this military vehicle. It’ll be used to house a dozen jack booted heavily armed and masked thugs that’ll bust down doors and storm the homes over pot.
Just watch.
I know Barney Fife would’ve loved to have one of these toys!
I know Barney would approve because I know he’s all for bud nippen. You gots to NIP IT…in the bud…
Seriously, you just made me laugh out loud!
By the way, very excellent double entendre there, Seriously.
Let me explain why we need military vehicles filled with a bakers dozen of jack booted thugs.
Your government has declared a war or terror. Your government believes and has said that people who use marijuana are terrorists and support terrorism.
Therefore logic dictates that we need military vehicles, flack jackets, hoods and jack boots.
It’s because we’re fighting terrorism at home.
Your government has told you this. They’ve even made commercials for you about it.
Get high much??? In one hour and one minutes time, the number of “jack booted thugs” has increased from 10 to 13. If you think people aren’t getting high and aren’t paranoid because of illegal drug usage, guess again.
I hope Johnny ends up in prison. He should know better…..
I forgot about the driver and bomb techs.
I hope Johnny not only goes to jail but is exposed a domestic terrorist which is what he is if he does the ganja. All dope users are terrorists, it goes with out saying, it’s a given and why we need the military in Mayberry.
Mayberry is just a start. I heard they’re using something called “bongs” in some areas of the country. That can’t be good, can it? I mean, what in the hell is a bong? I don’t know, but it can’t be good if it’s connected to weed.
“Not sure I like seeing public servants become para-military organizations.”
Too late for that. The war on some drugs changed all that. Well, because it’s what you wanted for the last 30 years.
THIS is the vehicle they fill up with 10 jack booted thugs they take to Johnny’s home for a pot bust.
@LBS-God help me I agree with part of your post. I too do not like to see our law enforcement becoming para-military. A couple of years ago one of the people who lives up here got high and told his wife he had a bomb. There were 40 guys running around here with auto-matic weapons and all he had was a propane bottle on his grill.
Something about this doesnt sit well with me. Not sure I like seeing public servants become para-military organizations.
Not long ago, the Iowa State Patrol was begging for more money for more troopers. Our area gets a new building and a humvee?